The existence of a town-plan was first noticed by J. de Fontenay, _Bulletin monumental_, 1852, p. 365, but his map appears to be incorrect and his views generally are based too much on _a priori_ assumptions.

Carthage, first founded -- though only in an abortive fashion -- as a Roman 'colonia' in 123 B.C. and re-established with the same rank by Julius Caesar or Augustus, shows a rectangular town-plan in a city which speedily became one among the three or four largest and wealthiest cities in the Empire.